Student appeals 

Students wanting to have a mark reviewed are to contact either your course coordinator or the academic who assessed your work and request a review of your result in the relevant subject, prior to submitting an appeal. Information about how to request a review of your result can be found in the Assessment and Results Policy section 4.104 – 4.105 and Ask.unimelb. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of that review, then you may lodge an appeal noting the limitations set out below.

Limitations

Appeals can only be accepted within 20 University business days of the original decision, in accordance with the Academic Board Regulation, the Vice-Chancellor Regulation and the Student Appeals Policy.

The Academic Board Regulation and also the Vice-Chancellor Regulation disallow appeals arising from a student’s failure to read and act upon a notice or correspondence sent to their University email account. The Academic Board Regulation also disallows decisions based solely on academic judgment by an examiner or board of examiners in relation to the academic performance of a student in any assessment component (marks and grades).

A student may only submit an appeal on their own behalf, not on behalf of a group or any other student. Group appeals will not be accepted.

This page will guide you through the processes and procedures required prior to submitting an appeal.

Students or other eligible persons have the right, in specific circumstances, to appeal University decisions made in respect of:

  1. Academic misconduct
  2. Student grievances and complaints
  3. Academic progress
  4. Fitness to practice
  5. Incorrect information or advice which has caused hardship to the student
  6. Examination outcome in a graduate research course
  7. Selection into a course
  8. General misconduct
  9. Fitness to study
  10. Suspension Orders, including a decision to review, extend, renew or vary Suspension Orders;
  11. Exclusion for a notifiable disease.

In accordance with the University of Melbourne Statute the Academic Board is the University’s final appeal body for student matters in listed in 1 to 7 above.

The Vice-Chancellor Regulation makes allowances for other matters, 8 to 11 above, to be appealed to the Academic Secretary in accordance with that regulation and the Student Appeals Policy.

The Academic Board Regulation and the Vice Chancellors Regulation govern student appeals and the Student Appeals Policy sets out the policy and procedural principles that govern the review and hearing of appeals.

Before submitting an appeal 

Ensure that you have attempted to resolve the issue and taken the preliminary steps relating to your dispute.

The Student Union Advocacy Service - an independent service funded by the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) – can assist you to draft and submit your appeal.

Selection appeals

A selection appeal is an appeal against a decision of the University to not grant an applicant admission to a course. A selection appeal will only be accepted where the application for admission has been reviewed.

Applicants can request a selection review by completing an online review request here: selection review.

Academic progress review – including unsatisfactory progress - appeals

Students may care to seek further advice from Stop1 or to contact the Student Union Advocacy Service (SUAS) for support.

Students may appeal a decision of an academic progress committee to terminate their enrolment or place restrictions on their continued enrolment, including suspension, following an academic progress committee decision.

Coursework degree students can lodge an appeal against a decision taken under the Academic Progress Review Policy (Coursework).

Research degree students can lodge an appeal against a decision taken under the Academic Progress Review Policy (Graduate Research).

For a student’s enrolment to be terminated for unsatisfactory progress they must have received both an “At Risk” notice and a “Show Cause” notice at least once during their enrolment in their course.

Coursework students should have received a copy of their CAPC report. If you do not have a copy of the report you can request a copy by submitting a CAPC Appeal Report Request.

Research degree students should have a copy of the progress requirements which were the basis of the faculty decision to terminate their enrolment or other academic progress review outcome.

Grievance and complaint appeals

Students may appeal a decision arising from the University’s Student Complaints and Grievances Policy.

To submit a complaint or grievance complete the Student Complaints and Grievances web form.

Appeals arising from the decisions covered by the Complaints and Grievances Policy will not be accepted until that process is exhausted.

Ensure you have all correspondence relating to the Complaints and Grievance Policy, including the decision being appealed, before submitting your appeal.

Academic and general misconduct appeals

Students can appeal a finding of academic misconduct or a penalty arising from a finding of academic misconduct. Findings and penalties of academic misconduct are governed by the Student Academic Integrity Policy and the Academic Board Regulation.

The range of penalties that may be applied for findings of academic misconduct are available in the attached list.

Students can appeal a finding of general misconduct or a penalty arising from a finding of general misconduct. Findings and penalties of general misconduct are governed by the Student Conduct Policy and the Vice-Chancellor Regulation.

Ensure you have all copies of correspondence relating to your allegation, the committee decisions and the Vice-Chancellor’s decision where relevant.

Fitness to practice appeals

Students can appeal a decision of a faculty Fitness to Practice Committee. Fitness to practice is governed by the Student Fitness to Practice Policy and the Academic Board Regulation.

Ensure you have all copies of correspondence relating to the fitness to practice concerns, the hearing of the Fitness to Practice Committee, and the committee decision.

Fitness to study appeals

Students can appeal a decision of a Fitness to Study Committee. Fitness to study is governed by the Student Fitness to Study Policy and the Vice-Chancellor Regulation.

Ensure you have all copies of correspondence relating to the fitness to study concerns, the hearing of the Fitness to Practice Committee, and the committee decision.

Appeal against an examination outcome in a research course

You must have submitted your thesis for examination and received a result to make an appeal under this section.

A student may appeal an examination outcome. Before submitting an appeal ensure that you have evidence of prejudice or bias by an examiner, or evidence of a procedural irregularity in the examination process, as these are the only grounds of appeal available.

Appeals against an examination outcome in a research course is governed by the Student Appeals Policy and the Academic Board Regulation.

Grounds for appeal 

An appeal in relation to:

  • Academic misconduct
  • General misconduct
  • Grievance or complaint
  • Academic progress/unsatisfactory progress
  • Incorrect information leading to hardship
  • Fitness to practice
  • Fitness to study
  • Suspension order
  • Exclusion for notifiable disease

must be on one or more of the following grounds:

  1. a procedural irregularity has occurred (which may include that the student has not received a fair hearing in all the circumstances);
  2. there is new information that could not reasonably have been provided at the time of the original decision, and that would probably have affected the decision or any penalty imposed;
  3. the decision was manifestly wrong; and/or
  4. the penalty imposed was manifestly excessive, inappropriate or not available in the circumstances.

An appeal against a selection decision can only be made on the grounds that a procedural irregularity has occurred in the selection process.

An appeal against an examination outcome in a graduate research course can only be made on the following grounds:

  1. procedural irregularities in the conduct of the examination, which may have had an effect on the outcome of the examination; and/or
  2. documented evidence of prejudice or bias on the part of one or more of the examiners.

NEXT STEPS

Submitting an appeal

Please note: this link will provide you with more information, and will not start the formal appeal process.